This invention involves a set of exclusive methods of folding mechanisms for means of collapsing and opening a baby stroller. The methods aims for the compact ability, ease of use, versatility and easy manufacturing.
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1. A folding mechanism for a stroller comprising;
a first gear component having a first surface and a second surface, the first and second surfaces being parallel, the first gear component having a plurality of teeth formed between the first and second surfaces of the first gear component, the first gear component having a first axis of rotation, the first gear component having at least one protrusion bar, the at least one protrusion bar being located adjacent one of the plurality of teeth of the first gear component and in between the first and second surfaces of the first gear component;
a second gear component having a first surface and a second surface, the first and second surfaces of the second gear component being parallel, the second gear component having a plurality of teeth formed between the first and second surfaces of the second gear component, the second gear component having a second axis of rotation laterally spaced from the axis of the first gear component, the second gear component having at least one receptor cavity extending into the second gear component in between two of the plurality of teeth of the second gear component, wherein one of the first and second gear components connects with a bar and further extends to become a front wheel support of the stroller and the other one of the first and second gear components connects with a bar and further extends to become a push handle support of the stroller; and
a locking system for constraining the movement of the first and second gear components, the at least one protrusion bar configured to fit within the at least one receptor cavity when the first and second gear components are rotated along the respective axis of rotation.
15. A folding mechanism for a stroller comprising;
a first gear component having a first surface and a second surface, the first and second surfaces being parallel, the first gear component having a plurality of teeth, and an axis of rotation, wherein the first gear component connects with a bar and further extends to become a front wheel support of the stroller;
a second gear component having a first surface and a second surface, the first and second surfaces of the second gear component being parallel, the second gear component having a plurality of teeth formed between the first and second surfaces of the second gear component, the second gear component having a second axis of rotation laterally spaced from the axis of the first gear component, and wherein the second gear component connects with a second bar and further extends to become a push handle support of the stroller;
at least one protrusion bar being located adjacent one of the plurality of teeth of the first gear component and in between the first and second surfaces of the first gear component, wherein the at least one protrusion bar connects to the first gear component and further engages with at least one stopper of a locking system connected to a rear wheel support of the stroller, the locking system configured to constrain movement of the gear components; and
at least one receptor cavity extending into the second gear component and being located in between two of the plurality of teeth of the second gear component, wherein the at least one receptor cavity comprises at least one gear locking tab and further engages with the at least stopper, and the at least one stopper being connected to the locking system, the protrusion bar configured to fit within the receptor cavity when the first and second gear components are rotated along the respective axis of rotation.
8. A folding mechanism for a stroller comprising;
a first gear component having a first surface and a second surface, the first and second surfaces being parallel, the first gear component having a plurality of teeth formed between the first and second surfaces of the first gear component and a first axis of rotation; wherein the first gear component connects with a bar and further extends to become a front wheel support of the stroller;
a second gear component having a first surface and a second surface, the first and second surfaces of the second gear component being parallel, the second gear component having a plurality of teeth formed between the first and second surfaces of the second gear component, the second gear component having a second axis of rotation laterally spaced from the axis of the first gear component, and wherein the second gear component connects with a second bar and further extends to become a push handle support of the stroller;
at least one protrusion bar, wherein the at least one protrusion bar connects to the first gear component and further engages with at least one stopper of a locking system, the locking system configured to constrain movement of the gear components, the at least one protrusion bar being located adjacent one of the plurality of teeth of the first gear component and in between the first and second surfaces of the first gear component;
at least one receptor cavity extending into the second gear component and being located in between two of the plurality of teeth of the second gear component, wherein the receptor cavity connects to the at least one gear component, the protrusion bar configured to fit within the receptor cavity when the first and second gear components are rotated along the respective axis of rotation; and
at least one gear locking tab, wherein the locking tab connects to the second gear component and further engages with the at least one stopper.
2. The folding mechanism according to
3. The folding mechanism according to
4. The folding mechanism in
5. The folding mechanism according to the
6. The folding mechanism according to the
7. The folding mechanism according to the
9. The folding mechanism in
10. The folding mechanism according to the
11. The folding mechanism according to the
12. The folding mechanism according to the
13. The folding mechanism according to the
14. The folding mechanism according to the
16. The folding mechanism in
17. The folding mechanism according to the
18. The folding mechanism according to the
19. The folding mechanism according to the
20. The folding mechanism according to the
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1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to methods of a folding mechanism on a baby stroller to conveniently collapse a baby stroller and more particularly, is directed to baby strollers that fold with a single hand operation.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In recent years, several inventions have been developed in an attempt to produce an easy method of collapsing a stroller. One particular prior art worth mentioning is a collapsible baby stroller by Sutherland et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,431) involving a folding mechanism that uses two knife blade followers to engage the spring loaded piston in an unfolded position. With this present invention followers are not necessary therefore reducing extra parts to be made. This will reduce manufacturing cost and time. This invention relates to the folding mechanism of a collapsible baby stroller, having a set of mesh gears, protrusion bar, receptor, locking tabs and a locking mechanism.
The present invention is a series of methods of a folding mechanism on a baby stroller, which improve the ease of folding a baby stroller and lessen the bulkiness of the stroller for storage. The invention of the folding mechanism involves two gear components moving simultaneously in opposite directions to guide the movement of the folding mechanism. The two gear components are further connected to the two main parts of the stroller—the front wheel(s) and the handle bar(s), by means of extensions. One gear component is connected to the extension to the front wheel(s), the other is connected to the extension to the handle bar(s). The invention further includes a protrusion bar and locking tabs respectively on each extension to halt the movement of the two gear components until the locking mechanism is disengaged. In addition, a stopper of the locking mechanism is added to constrain the movements of both gear components. The locking mechanism is further connected to the extension of the rear wheels. When the locking mechanism is disengaged, the protrusion bar slides into the slot of a receptor found along the adjacent gear component. The protrusion bar continues its smooth passage entering and exiting the slot of the receptor as the stroller continues to fold until the front wheel and handle bar extensions are parallel to each other.
The stroller frame is made up of three sections: front wheel support 2, push handle support 4, and rear wheel support 3 (See
The folding mechanism 6 consists of two outer casing 10a, 10b, two gear components 25, 26 and a locking system 80 (See
Unlike traditional mesh gears, the gear components have been modified whereby the gear component 25 has a protrusion bar 90 (See
The protrusion bar 90 is positioned within gear component 25 (See
Since the protrusion bar 90 is overtly projected out from the gear component 25, it will impede the movement of the gear components 25, 26, and will not allow the folding mechanism to function properly. The receptor 91 (See
The receptor 91 is positioned within gear component 26 (See
The receptor 91 has a hollow section that can be a groove or a slot to allow the passing through of protrusion bar 90 during gear movement. The depth and width of the receptor 91 is designed to provide a good fit with protrusion bar 90. The receptor 91 and protrusion bar 90 can be positioned at any location on each gear component 25, 26 respectively for smooth engagement during gear movement.
The locking system 80 consists of a spring loaded piston 12 connected to a stopper 14 at one end. The stopper 14 can be made of a lug, a bar, or a tab; and is positioned in order to constrain the movements of both gear components 25, 26.
When folding, the stopper 14 on the locking system 80 is retracted away from the protrusion bar 90, thereby freeing both gear components 25, 26 to rotate with the influence of force gravity pulling and collapsing of the front wheel support 2 and push handle support 4. In the diagram depicted in
The stroller, in the unfolded position depicted in
The retraction of locking system 80 can be achieved by lifting up the pull bar or lever 19. The lever 19 is connected to the locking system via pin 18 (See
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